Switching fuse cabinet



1935- J. G, JACKSON SWITCHING FUSE CABINET Filed Jail. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l mvsm-on ATTORNEY-S Jan. 22, 1935. .1. 3. JACKSON SWITCHING FUSE CABINET 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1930 ATTORNEY S 1935- J. G. JACKSON SWITCEIING FUSE CABINET Filed Jan. 13, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR dwaw 7 a J V a J "Z 7 l 1 urns: w W Y m a 0 0 Eu. 7v 4 W z 7 on o M, 1\\J Z; 4 W 2 E W l /v I J u 4 w ATTORNEY/6 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCHDQ'G FUSE CABINET tion of Michigan Application January 13 28 Claims.

This invention relates generally to switching fuse cabinets and the like and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of puts that will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out relative to the switch jaws;

" a switchjaw and fuse clip assembly;

Figure 11 il a detail view of one of the insulator blocks;

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view through the insulator blocks as applied to the door showing one looked and one in unlocked position;

Figure 13 is an elevation of the insulator block shown in Figure 11.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is an upright cabinet, 2 and 3 respectively are vertically spaced substantially parallel horizontal partitions extending between and terminally connected to the upright side walls 4 and 5 respectively of the cabinet adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof and dividing the cabinet into threechambers, A, B and C respectively. 6 and 7 respectively are laterally spaced substantially parallel vertical partitions extending between and terminally secured to the horizontal partitions 2 and 3, and 8 and 9 respectively are vertically spaced substantially parallel horizon- 1930, Serial No. 420,553

tal partitions in front of the vertical partitions 6 and 7 and extending between and terminally secured to the side walls 4 and 5 respectively at points between the horizontal partitions 2 and 3. 10 are vertically spaced blocks of insulating material extending across and secured to the vertical partitions 6 and '7 at points between the partitions 2, 8, 9 and 3 respectively and having opposite ends thereof terminating short of and spaced from the side walls 4 and hespectively of the cabinet. 11 and 12 respectively are doors hingedly connected to the top and bottom walls of the cabinet and normally closing the chambers A and C; 13 are doors connected to opposite side walls 4 and 5 respectively of the cabinet and normally closing the chamber B; 14 are latch bolts upon the inner side of the doors l3 and actuable by suitable handles 15 upon the outer sides of said doors; 16 and 17 respectively are vertically aligned metal strips secured to the partitions 2 and 3 at approximately the longitudinal median line of the cabinet and constituting striker plates or keepers for the latch bolts 14; and 18 and 19 are openings in the side walls 4 and 5 adjacent the rear wall 20 to give access to the spaces or chambers 21 and 22 between the side walls 4 and 5 and vertical partitions 6 and '3 respectively, and 23 and 24; are doors hingedly connected to the rear wall 20 of the cabinet and normally closing the openings 18 and 19.

25 and 26 are substantially parallel bus bars extending longitudinally of the cabinet in a duct 27 provided between the vertical partitions 6 and 7 in rear of the insulating blocks 10; 28 are connecting metal strips terminally secured to said bars 25 and 26 at spaced points thereof, preferably one in rear of each insulating block; 29 and 30 respectively are substantially parallel switch terminal jaws arranged in pairs at substantially right angles to and having their rear ends embedded in the insulating blocks 10; 31 are studs extending through the insulating blocks 10 and secured to the bus straps 28; 32 are substantially L-shaped strip metal connectors embedded edgewise in the blocks 10 and terminally secured to the studs 31 and jaws 29; 33 and 34 respectively are laterally spaced fuse clips in substantially horizontal alignment with the jaws 29 and 30, the clips 34 being secured directly to the blocks 10 at opposite ends thereof; 35 are strip metal connectors embedded edgewise in the blocks 10 and terminally secured to the Jaws 30 and clips 33; and 36 are fuses of suitable construction terally held by said clips 33 and 3a.

37 are knife blades upon the inner sides of the doors 13 for engagement with the switch jaws 29 and 30 to close the support. As shown, these blades are arranged in pairs and each pair has a substantially flat connector 38. Preferably three such connectors 33 are rigidly secured to one side of a substantially rectangular-shaped insulator block 39 and the latter is slidably mounted on the inner side of a door 13. Preferably spaced metal strips so are secured to the inner sides of the doors 13 and have converging edge portions for engagement with longitudinally extending slots 41 in the blocks. As shown, each block has three such slots and the latter are arranged in three sides, 42, 43 and 44 respectively thereof in such a way that the blades 37 may be either at right angles or parallel to the door 13. For example, the slots $1 in the sides 43 and 14 of the block may be engaged with the guide strips 40 so that the blades 37 will be in operative projecting position to engage the switch jaws 29 and when the doors 13 are closed, or the slots 41 in the sides 42 and d3 of the blocks may be engaged with the guide strips so that the blades 37 will be in an inopdoors are closed.

erative parallel position upon the inner side of the door. In thepresent instance the blocks 39 are held in an adjusted position by the door latch bolts 14 and for this purpose have transversely extending slots crossing the slots 41 in the sides 43 and 44 respectively thereof for the reception of such bolts. Moreover, the words "()n and Off" are upon the sides 51 and 43 of the blocks for indicating through suitable openings 54 inthe doors 13 the respective operative and inoperative positions of the blades when the 55 are insulator blocks arranged in pairs upon the outer faces of the blocks'10, the blocks of each pair being upon opposite sides of the aligned strips 16 and 17. As shown, these blocks 55 constitute housings for and protect workmen from the switch jaws 29 and 30 and are preferably bolted to the blocks .10. Preferably the blocks 55 have rabbets 56 for receiving the blades 37 when the latter are in parallelinoperative position. on the inner sides of the doors 13, and the base portions 57 of these rabbets have vertically spaced horizontal slots 58 therein that house the jaws 29 and 30 and are adapted to receive the blades 37 when the latter are in operative position in engagement with the jaws. In the present instance the slots 58 constitute are chutes and are preferably restricted, as shown, at their outer ends so as to confine and suppress the arc. The blocks also have transversely extending slots 60 in the outer edges 61 thereof for the reception of the door latch bolts 14 when the doors 13 are closed.

In the present instance, provision is made for the circulation of air about the parts within the cabinet for cooling purposes. As shown, opposed faces of the blocks 55 have longitudinally extending channels 70 that are in alignment and cooperate with openings 71 in the partitions 8 and 9 to form an air duct at approximately the longitudinal median line of the cabinet. The partitions 2 and 3 have openings 73 and 74 therein respectively in alignment with the openallel or at right angles to the door.

nesaoeo jaws and from the latter to the studs extendingthrough the blocksfacilitates close spacing of the parts and enables a greater number of such parts to be arranged within a given cabinet. The edgewise arrangement alsoserves to locate the parts in the insulating blocks. For instance, such an arrangement serves to properly align the switch jaws with respect to the blades on the doors. Moreover, the construction and arrangement is such that the contact between the blades and jaws will be along lines parallel to the doors when the latter are fully closed. As'a result, the line contact is efiected within a cabinet 'of minimum depth and the movement required to effect a complete closing movement after initial contact has been made, has been'reduced to a minimum. It will also be noted that the jaws are parallel and the blades are parallel and that each jaw is housed in a separate slot in an insulator block and that each blade is received insuch separate slot. Thus the jaws are covered and out of reach from workmen when the switch is disconnected and the slots serve as are chutes and confine and suppress the arc. The switch blades are held on the doors by the latch bolts under the control of the handles and the arrangement is such that the doors may be cammed fully closed by such handles in the event they are not originally closed tight. When open, the doors hold the blades in inoperative position relative to the jaws, hence the circuit is broken and such a construction obviates the necessity of pulling the fuse from the clip to break the circuit.- In other words, there is a disconnecting link between the fuses and bus bars. The blocks 39 carrying the blades 37 on the doorsare slidable relative to the doors and may be easily removed and adjusted to position the blades par- Moreover, the position of such blades is indicated-by the words On? and OfPas the case may be, so that the position of such parts may be readily determined at a glance when the doors are closed. The air ducts and perforations permit free circulation of air for cooling purposes and the bus bars are insulated by the blocks 10 from the switch parts and fuses. In fact, the bus bars are by themselves within the central longitudinal chamber 27 of the cabinet.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall'within the scope of what is claimed.

tiallyright angles therefrom or to lie substantially parallel thereto, and a block of insulating material having slots for receiving the blades when disposed at substantially right angles to the door, and having a rabbet portion for receiving the blades when parallel to the door.

2. In an assembly of the class described, 'a cabinet having a door, switch blades carried thereby and adjustable to project at substantially right angles therefrom or to lie substantially parallel thereto, switch jaws adapted to receive the blades when disposed at right angles -to the door, and a housing for the jaws having means permitting engagement of the blades with the jaws and having means for receiving the blades when the latter are substantially parallel to the door.

3. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, a plurality of switch blades and a supporting block for said blades adjustable on the door to position the blades at substantially right angles to the door and adjustable to position the blades substantially parallel to the door.

4. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, a switch blade, a supporting block for said blade adjustable. on the door to position the blade at substantially right angles to the door and adjustable to position the blade substantialLv parallel to the door, and means associated with said block and indicating the respective positions of said blade.

5. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, switch blades carried by said door and adjustable to project at substantially right angles therefrom or to lie substantially parallel thereto, and a block of insulating material having slots for receiving the blades when disposed at substantially right angles to the door, and having means for receiving the blades when parallel to the door.

6. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet. having a door, guide strips on the inner face of the door and having substantially parallel opposed edges spaced from said inner face, and a switch blade carrier adjustable over the inner face of the door and comprising a block of insulating material provided at three longitudinal edges thereof with grooves for the reception, two at a time, of the opposed edges aforesaid of said guide strips.

7. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, switch blades carried by said door and adjustable to project at substantially right angles therefrom or to lie substantially parallel thereto,' and a block of insulating material having slots for receiving the blades when disposed at substantially right angles to the door, said block being of such a shape as to provide a space for the reception of the blades when the latter are parallel to the door.

8. In an electric switch, an enclosure having a movable door, an electric switch contact upon one side of said door movable from a position extending substantially parallel to the door to a position substantially at right angles to said door, a supporting member for said contact, and means for mounting said supporting member upon said door whereby said member may be removed from, turned approximately ninety degrees relative to, and replaced upon said door to effect the movement aforesaid of said contact element.

9. In an electric switch, an enclosure having a movable door, a switch contact carrying insulator block upon one side of and free to move relative to said door, a switch contact carried by and projecting at substantially right angles to said block, and means for mounting said block upon said door whereby said block may be removed from, turned relative to, and replaced upon said door to enable the electric contact carried by said block to assume diilferent angular positions relative to said door.

10. In an electric switch, an enclosure having a movable door, and an electric contact upon the inner side of said door movable from a position extending substantially parallel to the door to a position substantially at right angles to said door.

11. In an assembly of the class described, a pair of laterally oflset switch jaws, connector strips secured to said jaws and having portions side by side in substantially parallel relation, and a common support for the jaws having a portion between and secured to the parallel portions of the connector strips and having another portion attachable to a bus bar.

12. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, an electric contact member upon one side of said door movable from a position extending substantially parallel to the door to a position substantially at right angles to the door, an electric contact member within the cabinet engageable by the contact member aforesaid when the first mentioned contact member is substantially at right angles to the door, and a protecting body of insulating material in the cabinet disposed over the last mentioned contact member but having a slot therein in which the first mentioned contact member is adapted to move to and from engagement with the second mentioned contact member.

13. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, an electric contact member, and a supporting block for said member adjustable on the door to position the member at substantially right angles to the door and adjustable to position the member substantially parallel to the door.

14. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, an electric contact member carried by the door and adjustable to project at substantially right angles thereupon or to lie substantially parallel thereto, and a body of insulating material in the cabinet, having a slot for receiving the member when it is disposed at substantially right angles to the door, and having a rabbet portion for receiving the member when it is parallel to the door.

15. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, an electric contact member carried by the door and adjustable to pro-' ject at substantially right angles thereupon or to lie substantially parallel thereto, and a body of insulating material in the cabinet, having a rabbet portion for receiving the member when it is substantially parallel to the door, and provided in a wall of the rabbet with a slot for receiving the member when it is disposed at right angles to the door.

16. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a door, an electric contact member carried by the door and adjustable to pro- Ject at substantially right angles therefrom or to lie substantially parallel thereto, a cooperating switch contact member in the cabinet adapted'to be engaged by the member aforesaid when it is disposed at right angles to the door, and a body of insulating material enveloping the second mentioned contact member, having a rabbet for receiving the first mentioned member when it is parallel to the door and having a slot for receiving the first mentioned member when it engages the second mentioned member, said slot being fashioned to suppress arcs from the second mentioned member upon movement of the first mentioned member relative thereto.

17. In an assembly of the class described, a base of insulating material, a bus bar connector extending through the base, and switch contacts and fuse clips arranged in line on the base with equal numbers thereof upon opposite sides of the connector, the fuse clips being farj thest away from the connector, two of said clips being spaced apart on 'each' side of the connector to receive the terminals of suitable fuses, and the switch contacts being between the connector and fuse clips nearest thereto, said contacts being arranged in pairs extending transversely of the line aforesaid, one contact of each pair being connected to the bus connector, and the other contact of each' pair being connected to the nearest fuse clips.

18. In an assembly of the class described, a pair of laterally offset switch jaws, substantially L-shaped connector strips having the bases of the Us secured to the jaws and having the upright portions thereof side by side in substan tially parallel relation, and a common support for the jaws having a portion between and secured to the parallel upright portions of the connector strips and having another portion attachable to a bus bar.

19. In an assembly of the class described a switch jaw, a connector strip projecting laterally from said jaw and having a flange disposed at substantially right angles thereto, and a substantially U-shaped fuse clip extending in the same general direction as the switch jaw and having the base of the U on and rigid with said flange. I

20. In an assembly of the class described, a

- switch jaw and a fuse clip spaced laterally apart and opening in the same direction, and a common support therefor including a connector strip secured to the jaw and having a flange secured to the clip.

21. In an assembly of the class described, an insulator block, a bus bar upon one side of said block, a switch jaw upon the other side of said block, and an electric connection between said bar and jaw including a relatively thin metal strip embedded edgewise in, said block.

' 22. In an assembly of the class described, an insulator block, a bus bar upon one side of said block, switch jaws upon the other side of said block, a member extending through the block and connected to the bar, and connections between said member and jaws including substantially fiat metal strips embedded edgewise in the block with their flat opposed faces substantiallyparallel and upon opposite sides of the membensaid neeaeee substantially right angles to the door and freefrom said contact when it is substantially parallel to the door.

2a. In an electric switch, a stationary memher and a member movable relative thereto, an electric contact upon one side of said movable member adjustable from aposition extending substantially at right angles to said side to a position substantially parallel to said side and vice versa, and? a cooperating electric contact carried by the stationary member engageable by the first mentioned contact when it isdisposed at substantially right angles to said side and free from said contact when it is substantially parallel to said side. i

25. In an electric switch, an enclosure having a movable door, an electric switch contact element carried by the door and movable from a position substantially parallel to a position at substantially right angles to the door, and means associated with the door and element for detachably holding the latter in adjusted position relative to the door regardless of the position of the door relative to the enclosure.

26. In an electric switch, a movable support, an electric contact, and a supporting member for said contact adjustable on said movable support to position the contact at substantially right angles to one side of said movable support and adjustable to position the contact substantially parallel to said side of the movable support.

2'7. In an assembly of the class described, a stud having a head and a portion attachable to a bus bar, connector strips secured to opposite sides of said head and projecting laterally.

in opposite directions therefrom in ofiset relation to each other, and contact membersupon opposite sides and extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal median line of said strips, said members being rigidly secured to said strips and forming therewith switch jaws for the reception of cooperating contacts.

28. In an assembly of the class described, a connector strip having a flange projecting at substantially right angles therefrom at one end thereof, cooperating contact members upon opposite sides and-extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal median line of said strip at its other end, said members being rigidly secured to and cooperating with the strip to form a switch jaw, and a substantially U- shaped fuse clip having the base of the U upon and rigid with the flange aforesaid of said strip. JOHN G. JACKSON. 

